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Wagons Journey to Coloma
2001 (April-May 2001)
The 52nd Annual Highway 50 Association
Wagon Train will begin May 26th in Dayton, Nevada and end June 10th at
the gold discovery site in Coloma, California. This year the train will
host many young scholars for a hands-on experience to supplement their
study of California history.
This photo was taken during a
lunch stop in Cameron Park in the field facing Sam's Town 2000
[Photo by Sharon Baldwin] |
Anyone interested in participating in the 2001 Wagon Train should
send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Vi Tara.
Vi Tara, Highway 50
Association Event Coordinator
6940 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines, CA 95726
or call (530) 644-3761 |
| Date |
Destination |
| May 25 |
The wagons will roll into Dayton, Nevada on May
25th to participate in the Dayton Founder's Day Celebration ~ Memorial
Day Weekend |
| May 26 |
Highlight of the weekend will be a parade scheduled
for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26th. Highway 50's double hitched
freight wagons drawn by the impressive 10 gray horse hitch driven
by Red Wolverton of Tucson, Arizona, will be a featured entry, carrying
Nevada dignitaries through the parade. The lead hitch will be parked
in downtown Dayton for the weekend as a backdrop for living history
demonstrations by Highway 30 Association members. |
| May 30 |
On Wednesday, May 30th, the official rendezvous takes
place at the Dayton Rodeo Arena. Folks will check in and be
assigned to their wagons or outrider positions. |
| May 31 |
Bright and early on May 31st, the wagons roll out heading
for California, under the experienced direction of Wagon Master Diane
Newborn. Wagon trains are nothing new to Diane. She has participated
with The Highway 50 Association since the age of four, and for many
years has worked alongside the longtime and legendary, now retired,
Wagon Master, Black Bart. |
| June 1 |
After a stop at Fuji Park in Carson City,
the train will climb the east slope of Spooner Summit, leaving
behind the Nevada deserts for the cool alpine heights of the Sierras
and that first breathtaking glimpse of Lake Tahoe. |
| June 2-3 |
Friday night, June 2nd, will find the train encamped
at Spooner Lake, where it will lay over until Sunday, June 3rd. After
breakfast on Sunday and some good gospel music, the train will move
on along the shores of Lake Tahoe, through Zephyr Cove. By
mid-afternoon the train will arrive at Stateline and the Horizon
Hotel and Casino to join an in-progress "wild west event".
Features of the afternoon will be a Bar-B-Que, open bar, fiddle players,
square dancing, gunfighters, and free pony rides for the children,
followed by an evening of cowboy poetry and music. |
| June 4 |
Monday, June 4th, the wagon train will move west to
Meyers for an overnight stop at the Amacker Ranch ...
long time wagon train supporters. |
| June 5-6 |
Tuesday morning, June 5th, the first group of students
join the train for the exciting journey over Echo Summit
and down to Strawberry Meadow where the students will set
up an encampment and participate in Living History studies as part
of their school curriculum. Wednesday will be a layover day at Strawberry
featuring black powder demonstrations, tomahawk throwing, Native
American dancing, and a children's program. |
| June 7 |
On Thursday, June 7th, the wagon train will again travel
West stopping for lunch at Kyburz, and then on to Riverton
for the night. A hearty meal at St. Pauli's is anticipated
by many as a reward for the day's efforts. |
| June 8 |
After a chance to sleep in an extra hour, teams are
hitched and readied for the long pull into Pollock Pines. This
is an exciting day because Pollock Pines residents are such great
supporters of the Wagon Train. Early in the morning folks start settling
their chairs and coolers along Pony Express Trail, waiting
for the wagon train to arrive. It is an emotional experience to turn
the wagons off the freeway and hear the cheers as the first horses
round the bend. It is a triumphal entry, sustained all the way to
Sportsman's Hall, where the Wagon Train spends Friday night.
Jay and Kathy Maggard of Sportsmans' host a great Bar-B-Que and dance
along with an all day craft fair on Friday. |
| June 9-10 |
Saturday, June 9, at the crack of dawn (or maybe
earlier), the bustle begins, to get people and animals ready for
the longest day of the trip! Pulling out from Sportsmans Hall at
7:00 a.m., the train will travel through Camino and Apple
Hill with stops at the Camino
Hotel and Boa Vista Orchards. The Annual
Wagon Train Parade through Historic Main Street in
Placerville will begin at 11:00 a.m. The train will move through
Placerville, across the freeway and down Cold Springs Road
to its ultimate destination of Marshall Gold Discovery Park,
in Coloma, for the Coloma Fest and California Heritage Days
Celebration. This two day event will already be well underway by
the time the wagon train arrives at about 5:00 p.m. Circling the
wagons for the last time in 2001, in the meadow near the museum,
will be the finale of the 52nd annual Highway 50 Association Wagon
Train. The two-day Coloma Fest & California Heritage Days celebration
will be in full swing at the Park. A Bar-B-Que and street dance,
hosted by the Hangtown Posse and the Coloma Lotus Association of
Merchants will round out Saturday night, followed by a Sunday morning
Miner's Breakfast and Gospel Sing at the wagons, and a second full
day of entertainment, hosted by the Park which will include exhibits
by the Arts Council, historic demonstrations, music, games, and
food for a wholesome family experience.
Sunday evening, June 10th, the wagon train riders will share their
private "good-byes" and make-ready to return to their
lives and labors in the 21st century, leaving behind, once more,
their tangible re-enactment of the "great Western migration"
that settled the West and ultimately led to California's Statehood. |
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